From the Athletic:
How Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson found his cause and his people through tragedy
By
Paul Dehner Jr.
Jun 16, 2023
20
CINCINNATI — Inside a loud, partying offseason locker room mere days away from dismissing for summer,
Logan Wilson stood in a far corner, spoke softly and slightly paused his train of thought to gather himself.
“I’m trying not to get emotional,” he said.
The memories are so visceral even seven years later. Memories of being in his dorm, a freshman at the University of Wyoming. Of going back to Casper to arrive at the Andersons’ house after the funeral. Of his thoughts as a 19-year-old processing unimaginable tragedy for one of the most influential people in his young life: “To just be with them,” he said.
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On Jan. 28, 2016, Josh and Jamie Anderson lost their firstborn, Brooks Joshua, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Just 137 days into his young life, it ended.
Josh knew Logan ever since watching him look like a man among boys playing football against the team he coached in middle school in Wyoming’s Natrona County. Josh ended up one of Logan’s high school coaches, a mentor and rock for every step of one of the most talented young players in the history of the state.
On this horrific day, however, Logan would be the rock.
“Having friends and family that have had adversity in their life, a lot of times they don’t know what to do when someone is going through something,” Josh said. “It’s just, show up. That’s what Logan did. He didn’t have to give advice. He wasn’t trying to fix the moment. He was just there and listened to us in our worst time and laughed with us in our best time. He’s just present. It shows his maturity and the type of human being he is.”
Logan Wilson at age 19 holds newborn Brooks Anderson. Wilson was a freshman at the University of Wyoming at the time. (Courtesy of Josh Anderson)
In the darkest moment, it shed light on the type of human Anderson wanted to raise.
“He told me, ‘I wanted him to be just like you,'” Logan said, emotionally recalling the moment Tuesday. “I have chills right now thinking about it. I couldn’t imagine.”
Nearly as unimaginable was what would come next. Josh made an inspirational decision to turn this family tragedy into positivity elsewhere. He established the Brooks Joshua Anderson Foundation, raised money with Jamie through golf outings and fundraisers to create what’s become 42 college scholarships and $100,000 dedicated to SIDS research, a syndrome shrouded in terrifying mystery and in need of clarity to save young lives.
Josh and Jamie have two boys, Maddox, 6, and Rhys, 3. They adore Logan. When Logan and his wife, Morgan, were married last summer, Maddox was a ring bearer. Josh was a groomsman.
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This began as a football relationship. It not only survived adversity but used it to blossom into one much more impactful, life-long connection.
“One thing I promised them is I would do everything I can to bring a light to their situation,” Logan said. “Now I have this platform to do something and always find ways I can help them out because they do so much good for our community back home in Wyoming and Casper. They are some of my favorite people I have ever met.”
So, when Logan’s marketing team approached him with the idea of hosting a celebrity softball tournament packed with his teammates, the answer made too much sense.
Yes, this would serve as an ideal team-bonding activity before players disperse to take one final deep breath before camp. The event featured
Bengals teammates
Sam Hubbard and
Joe Bachie slugging dingers in the home run derby finals before Chad Johnson,
Giovani Bernard,
Tee Higgins, Zac Taylor and a sprawling contingent of other Bengals took turns trying to impress the 3,000-plus in attendance.
It’s hard to believe many were more impressed than Maddox and Rhys. The boys enjoyed a tour of Paycor Stadium, including the Bengals locker room on Wednesday morning. They took in minicamp practice, staring intently at the back of Wilson’s helmet and yelling his name at every opportunity. The smiles never left their faces.
They’ll travel Friday to Canton to join Wilson on a tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Our boys just adore him,” Josh said. “It’s an incredible relationship.”
A symbiotic one also.
“They are freaking awesome,” Logan said.
Maddox and Rhys never met their oldest brother, but relish life as a torch carrying on his memory. For the
NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” weekend, Logan has always featured the Andersons’ Play For Brooks campaign. Maddox designed the cleats this year. He got to stand in front of a microphone two weeks ago at his school and proudly sport them for show and tell. They’ll be on the feet of the Bengals’ star linebacker December. The Andersons plan to be there.
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As promised, Logan never misses an opportunity to promote the cause.
“They’ve just been my people for a long time,” Wilson said. “He’s always been one of those coaches that always saw the best in me and always pushed the best out of me. I have always respected that about him. Someone I always went to whenever stuff got hard or whatever. He’s just always been a really good guy. Not just a coach, but a friend. Ever since that happened, we got as close as we could have been.”
Logan Wilson after a basketball game in high school with Josh Anderson. (Courtesy of Josh Anderson)
For all the excitement over home runs and grand slams Wednesday in Dayton, Wilson’s latest big swing for his people and passion closest to his heart shone brighter than any LED off the light towers. Thousands of dollars were raised for the Brooks Joshua Foundation.
“Logan was a guy that, besides our parents and siblings, always kind of interjecting himself into our lives,” Anderson said. “Every weekend he was home he swung by the house and hung out just to check with how we’re doing. For a 19-year-old kid to do that? He’s just kind of wise beyond his years. I never got into the profession to think I would get a great friend, a best friend out of the deal.”
In honoring Brooks and raising money on Wednesday 1,329 miles away from their hometown in front of dozens and dozens of NFL players, the list of things they never thought they’d witness only grows.
Amazing what can happen when you show up.
“We are just happy to be here,” Josh said. “The dollar amount doesn’t really matter to us, it’s the opportunity to share Brooks and his story and raise awareness for SIDS.”
To donate to the Brooks Joshua Foundation, go to PlayForBrooks.org and click Donate.
(Top photo of Logan Wilson with the Andersons: Courtesy of Josh Anderson)
Paul Dehner Jr. is a senior writer and podcast host for The Athletic. He's been covering the Bengals and NFL since 2009, most notably, for six seasons with The Cincinnati Enquirer. He's born, raised and proudly Cincinnati. Follow Paul on Twitter
@pauldehnerjr
www.mwcconnection.com
